Day 17 2Nephi 21-25

I thought tonight I would do something a little different.  These chapters have a lot of descriptions many don't know.  I looked them up.  As you read these chapters, refer to this entry and go back and plug in the definitions if you didn't know what the meanings were as you read.  It helps understand better and helps you remember better what you read.

"The sucking child (infant being nursed), played on the hole of an asp."  The hole of an asp is the den opening of Cobra Snakes.

"A weaned child shall put his hand upon the cockatrice's den."  Cockatrice Den is a viper (snake) den.

"Ensign of the people."  In ancient times, an Ensign is a banner to gather soldiers under in battle.

"Make men go over dry shod" means to have a river dry enough to cross without getting someone's feet wet.

Basically Isaiah is saying that during the Millenium when Christ reigns upon the earth there will be no fear, peace will be upon all men, animals will lie down with other animals that would hurt them in the wild, people will gather and collect around Christ and Christ will make them an Ensign.

Likening unto me:

I remember learning these stories as a young child.  I was not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as a young girl, but I was taught my Old Testament and New Testament.  I remember hearing about when Jesus came again and how the Lion would lie down with the lamb, the world would be a safe place to dwell, and that for 1000 years there would be peace.  

I prayed at 7 years old and in second grade, that I could live to see this happen!  I had perfect faith as a little one.  I used to look up at the sky and watch for Jesus to come back surrounded by angels and trumpets playing!  I remember once doing that in the parking lot of a grocery store holding my dad's hand.  He asked me what I was looking for, and very matter of fact I said, "oh, Jesus".  

As Jesus comes for those who love him, and forgive those who have repented, the Lord will also destroy the wicked.  Chapter 23 explains in detail.  Chapter 23 refers to God making a man more precious than fine gold.  In King Solomon's Kingdom, he had precious gold from a land called Ophir. The chapter says God will make a man more precious than the fine gold of Ophir.  Ophir was possibly in South Africa, India, or Arabia but we don't know for sure.

"A chased roe" refers to people of Babylon fleeing in fear when attacked.

"A sheep not taken up by man" refers to the feeling of abandonment and panic during judgement.

"Stir up the Medes against them" refers to a group of people who will go against the babylonians who didn't believe and were wicked.

God will be merciful to his people but the wicked will be destroyed, just as was so during Sodom and Gomorrah.

During the Millenium:

2 Nephi 24:3

3 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall give thee rest, from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.

2Nephi 24:7

7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet; they break forth into singing.

2Nephi 24:20

the seed of evil-doers shall never be renowned.

Nephi proclaims to his children as he speaks the words of Isaiah:

2 Nephi 25:26

26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

These chapters are full of descriptives that the jews would understand as Isaiah spoke them.

What is my take on all of these chapters?  What can I liken unto me?

How can I watch and prepare for the Second Coming of the Messiah?

What can I do right now to prepare?

All of these questions ran through my mind as I read.  I am now alert once again to the Plan Christ has for us.  "To this end was he born, for this cause he came in to the World.  Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  Surely he has born our grief, carried our sorrows, was wounded because of me, and with his stripes I will be healed.  Jesus was rejected and bore sorrows and was acquainted with grief.  GOD LOVES US AND GAVE US HIS SON."

This was heavy reading for me.  It had made me fall to my knees today and ask many questions in prayer to Heavenly Father.  He loves us.  Isaiah and Nephi both saw Jesus.  They both shared His truths, life, death, resurrection and 2nd coming with us.  

This is real.  I can not reject or doubt it and I can not ever again not believe.